Solution: MATH 39.166666 Regular Numbers
Answer: ADA KING

Written by Amos Eshel

This puzzle is composed of math expressions that equate a number which is also a regular expression for that number. The flavortext expression is meant to show how order of operations works, namely 14 + 3^3 + 2*(11-6) + 7^2= 100, and as a regular expression: {ONE}{H}{UND}{}{R}{E}{D}.

Each group is composed of 3 expressions that you must solve, where each “answer” is in increasing order. Once the 3 expressions have been solved, do it one more time with the expressions at the bottom (also in increasing order). Finally convert these last 7 numbers via A1-Z26 and order by the original mini-puzzles for the answer: ADA KING. Individual solutions below.

SEVEN = .[FIVE]*[FOURTEEN]
FOURTEEN = [FOUR]*.[FIVE]*[SEVEN]
TWENTY = [TWO]+[NINE]+[THREE][^TWO]
A = ONE = [FOURTEEN]+[SEVEN-TWENTY] (Expression 2)

TWO = [TWENTY]*.[ONE]
FOUR = .[ONE]+[THIRTEEN]*.[THREE]
FIVE = [FIFTEEN]+[SEVEN]+[THREE-TWENTY]
D = FOUR = [FIVE]*[TWO]*.[FOUR] (Expression 3)

ZERO = .[THREE]*[ZERO]
ONE = .[FOUR]*[FIVE]*.[FIVE]
FORTY = [FOURTEEN]+[TWENTYSIX]
A = ONE = [FORTY][^ZERO]*[ONE] (Expression 1)

TWELVE = [THREE]+[TWO][^TWO]+[FIVE]
NINETYTHREE = [THIRTYONE]*[THREE]
NINTEYFOUR = [THIRTEEN]+[THREE][^THREE]*[THREE]
K = ELEVEN = [TWELVE]+[NINETYTHREE-NINTEYFOUR] (Expression 6)

THREE = [FIFTEEN]*.[FOUR]*.[FIVE]
SIX = [TWELVE]*.[FIVE][^ONE]
TEN = [THREE]+[SEVEN]
I = NINE = .[SIX]*[TEN]+[THREE] (Expression 5)

THREE = [TWO]+[EIGHT]*[ZERO]+[ONE]
FOUR = .[TWO][^TWO]*[ONEHUNDRED]
SEVEN = .[FIVE]*[TWELVE]+[ONE]
N = FOURTEEN = [FOUR]+[THREE]+[SEVEN] (Expression 7)

ONE = [TWO]*.[FIVE]
FIVE = [FIFTY]*.[ONE]
TWELVE = [TWO]+[ELEVEN]+[TWO-THREE]
G = SEVEN = .[FIVE]+[TWELVE]+[ONE] (Expression 4)

Author’s Notes

Credit for the idea from Jonah Ostroff who came up with the original [THREE]+[SEVEN]=TEN, with inspiration from Jack Lance.